The support team for champions at the US Open extends beyond coaches, trainers, family, and friends. Many athletes have brought a loyal four-legged companion to Flushing Meadows to help them cope with the emotional stress of one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments.
According to insiders, the New York tournament is the most dog-friendly of the Grand Slam events. This allows players to avoid missing their pets while in a city like New York, where dogs—over half a million registered with the city—are practically everywhere. Consequently, all the players’ canine fans are issued personal credentials, complete with a photo attached to a blue leash, nearly identical to the passes hanging from their owners’ bags.
The New York Times* followed several of them: Quincy, the labradoodle of WTA number 61 Danielle Collins, lives a pampered life shuttling between a five-star hotel with views of Manhattan, breakfasts of eggs and bacon, and an afternoon massage before returning to the hotel for the night. Then there’s Bella, Anna Kalinskaya’s mini-dachshund, spotted in the players’ lounge, and Mander, Marta Kostyuk’s maltipoo, seen courtside during his owner’s practice session.
The U.S. Tennis Association requests that players not bring pets into the locker rooms or dining areas, though these are not official rules and the request is sometimes ignored. “They ask you not to bring them into the locker rooms, which is understandable, but everyone in the locker room loves the dogs,” said Collins. This permissive pet policy aligns with a simple truth: Americans love their dogs. “If they are members of the team and part of the family,” said USTA spokesman Daniel Pyser, “we will treat them as such.”